Rendering: Adam Pardee/STAFF.

So you got that Fourth of July playlist all set to play at the big barbecue on Tuesday? Me neither.

If I did – and I really don’t, because barbecues are full of beer (which I no longer drink) and barbecue sauce (which I do still drink) but almost always dribble it down my front and ruin my shirt. I’ve run out of shirts and wives to buy me new ones.

Anyway, because our founding fathers believed America is about free speech, run-on sentences, barbecue sauce and trying to impress people with playlists, I’ve spent at least the past 20 or 30 seconds thinking about my favorite Fourth of July playlist.

Of course, people love the free speech part when your speech is something with which they agree. If I wasn’t a middle-aged white man living in an upper middle-class city where they require us to take dogs to restaurants, I’ll try some clever rebellion of my own with my 2023 Fourth of July Barbecue Playlist.

“What are the 10 songs you’d put on your Fourth of July playlist, Tony?” Well thanks for asking. It’s an important question, especially since I can’t think of anything else to write about this week. I’ll try to pick songs that have patriotic terms in lyrics like “America” “U.S.A.” and “Special Counsel.”

The first would, be course, Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” Not because it’s such a patriotic anthem, but because the Boss was ringing the bell for Americans who can’t afford to take tiny dogs to nice restaurants, so they join the Army.

Then they get shipped somewhere they can’t pronounce to kill and/or die for the powerful who won’t go themselves. Which Ronald Reagan apparently didn’t understand when he used it as a campaign song, showing how out of touch the powerful really were.

Sticking up for the little guy is supposed to be as American as it gets.

How about “Fortunate Son,” by Creedence Clearwater Revival? You know the theme – the sons of the powerful got draft deferments while those of the not-so-powerful went to Vietnam. And Donald’s Trump’s podiatrist ended up with a nice Christmas bonus.

Again – sticking up the little guy is supposed to be as American as a special counsel carrying a little dog to a barbecue.

“Freedom of Speech,” Ice-T: Yeah. Just watch what you say. Ice-T didn’t and became the scariest man to American power since Sammy Davis, Jr. had the audacity to walk through the casino in which he performed. Back when drag queens like Milton Berle were still funny.

Diversity and freedom of speech is very American.

“American Jesus,” Bad Religion: A song about the absurdity of American exceptionalism. But they say “American” and “Jesus” in the title. So that might work for everyone, even if it is a little aggressive sounding for your barbecue.

Questioning the American reality? Very patriotic.

“American Girl.” Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. No patriotic point. It’s just a fantastic song. It does describe a girl (she was American) who sensed there was more to life than what she was being told.

There’s not. Now put down that book.

“This Land is Your Land,” Woodie Guthrie. It’s a pretty simple statement of how equality should rule the U.S. Of course, it doesn’t really say who “your” is directed at. With which Native Americans might have a problem. Go ahead, start that conversation at the barbecue.

Theoretical equality is very American (we love to talk about it).

“America,” Neil Diamond: Yes, absolute cheese when it came out in 1981. But the song from the point of view of immigrants looking for a better life, suddenly takes on some new importance in 2023. Try to get a Trump supporter to sing along … it’ll be fun.

Immigration is very patriotic.

“What’s Going On,” Martin Gaye: Likely the best anti-war song ever written. And too many people equate patriotism with war. Americans are supposed to question things, even supposed patriotism.

Peace is (supposed to be) patriotic.

“Rockin’ in the Free World,” Neil Young: Another anthem for the frat guys to pump their fists without, perhaps, actually listening to the lyrics about not taking care of the people who need it most.

Questioning the system is patriotic.

“God Save the Queen,” The Sex Pistols: Well … it’s anti-British monarchy. That’s got to count for something on the Fourth of July.

Follow music critic Tony Hicks at Twitter.com/TonyBaloney1967.